Newark’s Melt Down Grilled Cheese Puts a Grown-Up Spin on the Childhood Classic

Newark’s Melt Down Grilled Cheese Puts a Grown-Up Spin on the Childhood Classic

Ever had a grilled ice cream sandwich? Try this delight and many others at the Main Street eatery.

By Mark Nardone // Photo by Emily Duck

Why hadn’t someone thought of it sooner? “There are a ton of burger places, a ton of Mexican places, a ton of pizza places, but no one was doing grilled cheese,” says Aaron Nocks of Melt Down Grilled Cheese, the specialty grilled cheese place on Main Street in Newark that is going gangbusters thanks to a full menu of novelty sandwiches. Nocks is part of the team that brought you the Peace-A-Pizza place down the street, and it brings the same level of creativity to the grilled cheese. To wit: The Baja Melt, a gooey delight of Monterey Jack cheese, avocado, tomatoes, pulled chicken and Baja butter on Italian bread. Special butters—rosemary butter, Parmesan butter and others—are part of the Melt Down secret. Bread from Philadelphia’s famous Le Bus is also part of it. The rest is constant experimentation with recipes. (Grilled macaroni and cheese sandwich, anyone?) You’ll also find soups and salads, offered in various combos, and a treat to try: a grilled ice cream sandwich. It’s true. (145 E. Main St., Newark; 737-1135, meltdowngc.com)